Fisher names Davis the starter going forward

Well, aint that inter esting.

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Jeff Fisher: Austin Davis is starter
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11624255/jeff-fisher-says-austin-davis-start-quarterback-st-louis-rams?ex_cid=espnapi_public

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher officially named Austin Davis his starting quarterback on Wednesday afternoon.

That’s not much of a departure from what has taken place in each of the past two games but it does represent a shift in what Fisher has been willing to say publicly.

Since veteran backup Shaun Hill suffered a calf injury in the season opener against Minnesota, Fisher has been adamant that Hill would resume starting duties when healthy.

But Davis played well enough in starts against Tampa Bay and Dallas that Fisher was forced to reconsider.

“We’re going to go ahead and start Austin for the remainder of the season,” Fisher said. “It’s not that Shaun lost the job. It’s that Austin earned an opportunity to keep it. Shaun understands. He’s a team player. In my parting comments with Austin, I told him not to look over his shoulder. So he’s going to take this team and run with it.”

Fisher informed Hill and Davis of his decision in his office Wednesday morning. After Davis threw for 235 yards and led the Rams on a game-winning drive against the Buccaneers, Fisher began leaning toward giving him a bigger opportunity.

When Davis followed with a 327-yard, three-touchdown effort in a losing cause against Dallas, Fisher’s mind was made up.

“I think it’s important that you avoid the questions, you avoid the controversies and things like that,” Fisher said. “Yes, I did say that Shaun was our quarterback. My job is to make the right decisions.

“[Davis] deserved it. He deserves an opportunity. He’s worked very hard. I think he’s proven that with a week’s worth of preparation what he can do on the field.”

In two starts plus a half of relief behind Hill, Davis has thrown for 754 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for a passer rating of 93.1 and a QBR of 66.7. His 72.3 percent completion rate is first in the NFL.

Davis said he didn’t spend much time thinking about his role over the past few weeks but is pleased to know that he’s getting an extended chance at the job.

“Obviously, I’m just excited for the opportunity to have a good chance to go play,” Davis said. “Coach Fish was very adamant not to look over your shoulder. He picks a guy and he sticks with him. That vote of confidence is huge. I really appreciate that.”

Austin Davis is an extremely lucky man.

If Bradford had not been hurt, he would not be employed in the NFL right now at all. They would have kept Hill as the #2, and the draft pick for future development, and Davis would have been gone.

Shouldn’t Fisher have left Philly wondering
who would start?

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Zooey wrote:

&zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:
Austin Davis is an extremely lucky man.

If Bradford had not been hurt, he would not be employed in the NFL right now at all. They would have kept Hill as the #2, and the draft pick for future development, and Davis would have been gone.

I don’t know about that. I think if Bradford had stayed, Davis was the third, just based on how he started getting it together in the pre-season.

If you say so. I don’t remember reading anything positive about Davis during pre-season. I remember thinking the guy was a goner, for sure. There was no point in keeping him with a healthy Bradford, Hill, and Gilbert (either on the team or PS).

I think AustinD did pretty well in preseason,
and Gilbert looked pretty bad.

Still, if you’d told me the Rams would be
starting AustinD back then, I’d have
said the season was over.

So far, the Kid is the story of the Season.
So far.

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Anybody who has watched Davis since he showed up in camp in 2012 and really paid attention thought this kid has something going for him. I find it amazing to think that anyone who was actually paying attention would say stuff like I thought he was just a camp arm. Unbelievable.

In case you didn’t notice, yah they cut him last season after a poor 2013 pre-season camp but they also brought him back. You don’t bring back players who have no ability cuz you like them.

Geez Zooey, I’ve been calling this since day one that Davis should be the starter. Where have you been?

Grits

It has never been a big deal to me, who starts. Davis hasn’t been injured.

RamzFanz

Last year I was calling for AD to start over KC so they could see what they have. Imagine if they HAD, what might have happened. This is what I said then:

I hope they start him or he comes in and tears it up just so we can return to this discussion. I remember another QB who was cut and no one ever heard of and ended up being one of the best to ever play the game. Hint: Mike Martz said he pay him $50 if he would learn to throw a spiral. Coaches aren’t always right.

But now, Fisher is making the same mistake. A year ago I said I can’t wait to revisit this discussion IF AD ever got to start. I’m saying it again. IF Hill gets to start, I’ll be back to finish the discussion.

I thought it was a mistake to not see what AD had last season and I think it’s a mistake to not see what Hill has this season. I don’t give a hoot about who’s going to be the backup or starter next season, I want to see a winning season THIS season.

I’ve got nothing against Davis. I’m an AD fan too, I’m just not sure how they can anoint him after it’s been bench, bench, fired, Bradford hurt, rehired, bench. bench, bench, Bradford hurt, bench, 2 1/2 games with 1 win, starter. AD is a long critisized QB, and fairly so, who had 1 good game against Dallas and 1 win on a 10 second runoff against Tampa. Neither of those are astounding feats. Davis has had ONE great game. That game came against a suspect defense. It wasn’t even a great game so much as a great half. He’s had ONE win against a horrible defense who gave up 56 points the very next week. I’m not con-Davis, I’m pro-Davis, but building a season around him as a starter without seeing what the vet on the team has to offer is a mistake IMHO.

I’m not convinced that AD is better than SH. I’m not naming any QB the starter with that record. I would see what I have, then decide. If I’m Fisher, I at least wait a game or two more before naming anyone the starter and, given the chance, see what Hill has.

Hill played very well in that half against Minnesota. His drives were killed by penalties time and again. Hill had the team humming and was driving the ball. His performance was very good. He didn’t create penalties like Davis has (he admitted it), he had drives killed by penalties.

AD being good in this system doesn’t mean Hill couldn’t be better. Hill has qualities that could make him a better QB and I would have at least taken a fair look at him. Is 34 especially old for a QB? Does experience mean nothing? We have no idea if Hill is the future here or not. He could easily have 5-6 more years in him or more.He looked much better than AD in OTAs, TC, and PS. The half a game he played, he played very well. His drives were all stopped by penalties. He has qualities you don’t find in young QBs. He reads defenses well. He is able to anticipate the open receiver. He moves in the pocket better than AD.

Me? I would have started Hill against the Eagles and seen where it went. If it went great, wonderful, just like he thought when he named him the starter. If he sucked, pull him.

I hope AD tears it up and there’s no question going forward. I’m all for it. We’ll see. The season will play out and we’ll see if AD is who many have anointed him to be. I hope so. I always have hoped so. But I also wish they hadn’t have acted so hastily.

I agree with a lot of this and had some reservations when Davis was named starter, but I doubt Fisher made his decision in a vacuum. I’m sure he had input from Schotty and others. Put it this way, if Schotty didn’t think the kid should start I doubt very much that Fisher would have named him the starter, right? And of course Schotty and his offensive coaches would have the best feel for AD’s abilities and grasp of the offense.

And it’s not like Hill is going anywhere.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by nittany ram.

Well, Fisher had to make a decision, and either QB was a defensible choice at this point. And I don’t fault him for the way it went down.

Coaches are like politicians, and presidents, and theatre directors. When you are the guy in charge of an entire program, you simply aren’t at liberty to say whatever you think, or even tell it like it is.

Fisher was adamant the whole time that Hill was the starter, all the while considering his options with an open mind. That’s what a coach has to do. Now, he names Davis the starter from this point forward…”Don’t look over your shoulder; you’re the man”…and he knows that Davis’ hold on the position DOES depend upon his performance, and that he might have to go to Hill.

Fisher knows that. He can’t say that.

If he said that, you know what would happen in the locker room and during every single interview.

Right now, Davis is the starter against the Eagles, and it’s his job to lose going forward. But I don’t think Davis gets more than two consecutive games in which his performance is part of the storyline of a loss.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by wv.

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:
I don’t think Davis gets more than two consecutive games in which his performance is part of the storyline of a loss.

Maybe 3? Nah probably 2. Good post.

Interesting times.

Sure. Three. It would depend on how big of a contributor his performance was in the losses, who the next opponent is, the relative health of both QBs, the psychological mindset of Davis going forward, the pulse of the locker room, and so on.

Obviously, the number isn’t important, as you know. All I’m really saying is Davis has been instructed not to look over his shoulder, but let’s face it, Fisher is looking over his shoulder. That’s the reality.

So…here’s hoping Davis rips off one good performance after another.

InvaderRam wrote:

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:
Wow, AD with the one handed grab. Kid is quite an athlete.

Grits

well he does have those gargantuan hands…

LoL

Austin ‘big hands’ Davis

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• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by wv.